Accessibility Resource Center

February 28, 2014

Barnstable County Department of Human Services Launches Health and Wellness Website

February 18, 2014 - Barnstable County Department of Human Services is pleased to announce the launch of a new web-based platform that converts analysis of all health data into customized community health indicators.  This groundbreaking tool is especially valuable for assessment and community health planning.

"As the first Network of Care website in Massachusetts, Barnstable County Department of Human Services is on the forefront of advancing access to a wide variety of data and information about health and wellness," said Beth Albert, Director of Human Services in Barnstable County.  The new Health and Wellness website is a clearinghouse of health indicators, model practices and informational tools for individuals, families, and organizations.  Read more ...

Visit the Barnstable County Health and Wellness Website at http://barnstable.ma.networkofcare.org/ph

SAVE THE DATE

Open Enrollment for New Health

and Dental Insurance

Massachusetts residents can now apply for health and dental insurance during open enrollment: October 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014.  There are new plans and new ways to get help paying for health insurance.  Commonwealth Care consumers must re-enroll in new coverage.

Locally, Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & the Islands is available to inform and assist individuals on how they may qualify for affordable health coverage and help with enrollment in new programs or re-enrollment in existing programs.  To set up an appointment or for more information contact CACCI at 508/771-1727 or walk in at 372 North St., Hyannis.

Individuals can also seek enrollment assistance online at MAhealthconnector.org or call 1-877-623-6765 for questions, help completing an application, and a list of Navigators in your area. 

The Cultural Center of Cape Cod, Cotuit Center for the Arts, Cape Cod Conservatory, and Wellfleet Preservation Hall are trying to gauge interest in their Plain Talk Initiative, which aims to improve the lives of young people across Cape Cod. By responding to this brief survey, you are helping us decide the most effective way to reach our goals. We deeply appreciate your responses, and are looking forward to collaborating with you as Plain Talk moves forward.

Take the Survey

Harbor Health Services, Inc. and Ellen Jones Community Dental Center are reaching out to members of the community so they can provide toothbrushes to children who need them. 

The Great Brush-Out will be held from February 24th through March 7th, and we're looking for new, SOFT, individually wrapped children's toothbrushes. 

If you or an office, organization or business you know wants to join the effort by donating toothbrushes or serving as a toothbrush collection site, email Judith Reppucci at jreppucci@hhsi.us or by telephone at 508/778-5499.  View flyer and distribute as needed.

To celebrate National Children's Dental Health Month, Harbor Community Health Center, Hyannis and Ellen Jones Community Dental Center, Harwich are hosting Open Houses with free dental screenings for children under age 18 on March 1 and March 8.  The clinics are delighted by the receipt of additional support which will  allow them to offer FREE fluoride treatments as well - especially important here on the Cape where none of the towns derive the benefits of community water fluoridation.  There are only 25 slots open in each location, so please make appointments as soon as possible by calling Harbor Health Services at 508 778-5400.  View flyer.

An Evening of Solutions, Part 2 is scheduled for March 3, 2014 at 6:00 PM at Sandwich Town Hall, 130 Main St., Sandwich to review the effects of the 2012 legislation relative to prescription drug abuse, hear how the Barnstable County Sheriff's Vivitrol program is progressing, and get the latest from Gosnold on prevention, education and intervention efforts.  The program will also look at the ASSIST Act and measures being taken to increase availability of jail diversion and treatment programs.  Read more ...

ANXIETY IN CHILDREN: SYMPTOMS & SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT.  Free Cape-Wide Forum for Parents, Educators & Helping Professionals will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2014, 6-8:00 PM at St. Mary's Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 3055 Main St., in Barnstable

The objectives of the forum are:

* To learn how to identify symptoms of anxiety in children.

* To discover the different types of anxiety.

* To learn successful treatment models including the appropriate use of medication.

* Resources and support for parents and professionals who have or work with children with anxiety.

Dr. Bart Main, Child Psychiatrist for Cape Cod Healthcare, will be the presenter. He is an American Board of Psychiatry certified General and Child Psychiatrist with more than 30 years of experience.

This program is free of charge. Buffet dinner and networking from 6:00 -6:30 pm. The presentation will begin at 6:30 pm. A raffle will be held for a new Nexus Tablet. All are invited to attend and you do not have to be a Barnstable resident.

For more information, contact Bob McKay, Barnstable Tower Grant Coordinator at McKay_Robert@barnstable.k12.ma.us

This forum is sponsored by the Peter & Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation through the Barnstable Public Schools.

SAVE THE DATE:  Wednesday, April 9, 2014 - Forum on Self Esteem, Harwich Community Center, Oak St., Harwich

Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC) will host it's quarterly Housing Roundtable Discussion on Wednesday, March 5th from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM in the HAC Conference Room, 460 West Main St., Hyannis.  A light lunch will be served.  View flyer.

Please RSVP to Liz at 508/771-5400 x 210 or lbelcher@haconcapecod.org by February 28th.

Independence House, Inc. in collaboration with the  Yarmouth Police Department and the Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office bring an international effort to Cape Cod for a second year.  The White Ribbon Day event calls on men to stand up in solidarity, wear a white ribbon and take a pledge saying NO to violence against women and girls.  Read press release.  More information about men on Cape Cod taking the pledge can be found on the Independence House website.

The event is scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 6th from 9 - 11:00 AM at the Irish Village in South Yarmouth.

International Women's Day is an annual commemoration of women's rights and achievements and celebration of women's potential without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.

This year the Cape Women's Coalition seeks to begin a new tradition of gathering women to network and celebrate their power to create change on Cape Cod.  The 1st Annual Cape Cod International Women's Day Breakfast will be held on Friday, March 7th, 8 - 10:00 AM at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Iyannough Rd., Hyannis.  Read more ...  Register online  For questions contact capewomenscoalition@gmail.com

Women Rock!  Arts, Activism and Celebration on Sunday, March 9, 3:00 PM at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod in South Yarmouth.

Sponsored by the Cape Cod Brach of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.  Admission: Sliding Scale.  Benefits the Margaret Moseley Peace Education Fund.  View event flyer.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is scheduled for March 20 and 21, 2014 from 8:45 AM - 4:45 PM at Child and Family Services, 1019 Iyannough Rd., Hyannis.  Cost is $125 per person (subsidized rate).  Light breakfast, lunch and snacks included.

ASIST is a two-day intensive, interactive, and practice dominated course designed to teach suicide first-aid to help a person at risk stay safe and seek further help as needed.

For an application email yspp@chcofcapecod.org or call 774/392-5420 for more information.  Registration deadline March 14, 2014.  View flyer.

Have you thought about volunteering in your community? Now is the chance to find the right fit for you. Please join us on March 20, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at the Falmouth Public Library "Bay Room", 300 Main Street, Falmouth. There will be several representatives from Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands there to discuss the various volunteer opportunities such as Meals-on-Wheels drivers, nursing home Ombudsman advocates, environmental projects and more. Some of our current volunteers will be there as well to tell of their experiences.

So please come, have a snack and learn more! For more information, please call Nancy Wolf at 508-394-4630, at Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands.

Hope Dementia & Alzheimer's Services has published its 2014 support group calendar, offering a variety of programs across our region.  The receive a program book contact Info@HopeDementia.org or call 508/775-5656. 

Support groups are held monthly at various locations throughout Cape Cod and the surrounding community and are free and confidential.  View schedules for CARES group, Caregiver Support Groups and Arts & Conversation group.  Programs are led by trained facilitators. Advanced registration is required.  Please call 508/775-5656 for additional information on programs or to register. Read more ...

Mass Department of Public Health

Bureau of Substance Abuse Services

BSAS: (#282) Closing the Communication Gap: Building a Client's Communication with their Healthcare Providers, scheduled for Tuesday, March 25, 2014, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM at the Holiday Inn at Boxborough Woods, 242 Adams Place, Boxborough, MA.  Registration fee is $55 payable to Adcare Educational Institute.  Registration deadline is March 18, 2014.  5.5 Continuing Education Credits.

View the brochure  for more details and to register.

In honor of Earth Month, Beyond Beauty is supporting the community by hosting a Beach Sweep at Mass Audubon Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, March 30th from 9 AM - 12 PM.  All parties interested in making a positive impact in our local environment should meet at 9:00 AM at the Wildlife Sanctuary at 345 Bone Hill Rd. in Barnstable.

Mass Audubon Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary: sandy beaches, butterfly-filled meadows, woodland trails and farm animals combine to make Long Pasture a unique experience on Cape Cod.  They care for acres of conservation land, provide school, camp, and other education programs for children and adults annually, and advocate for sound environmental policies at local, state, and federal levels.

For more information or to sign up to participate call Heather Arrascue at 508/375-9100.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released the following news articles:

Up to $51 Million Available in Project Launch Grants

Up to 13.1 Million Available in Circle of Care VI Grants for American Indian/Alaska Native Communities

Up to $3 Million Available in Recovery Community Services Program-Statewide Network Grants

Drug-Free Communities Support Program Grants Announced 

For more information on programs and grant opportunities click here or visit: 

http://www.samhsa.gov/

Activities and Programs include:

• Alzheimer's Support Groups for caregiver's and newly diagnosed individuals
• Caregiver exercise groups
• Parkinson's Dance, Movement & Exercise Group

View March schedule

The Friends of Eastham Council on Aging Thrift Shop is now Open, Thursdays - Saturdays from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM.  The shop is located at 580 Massasoit Rd, North Eastham.  Help by volunteering to work at the Thrift Shop also and help support the Eastham senior community.  For more information call 508/255-6164

Call for a FREE Day Pass at The Gathering Place, located at the Eastham Senior Center, 1405 Nauset Rd., North Eastham.  Relax in the homey environment, learn to make days more joyful, see the updated center and meet the friendly staff.  To book your day call 508/255-6734.

Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands has an immediate need for Meals on Wheels drivers in Harwich, Orleans and Sandwich.  Meals are picked up at the nutrition site between 9:45 and 10:00 a.m. Total time commitment is less than 2 hours per week.

Please call Nancy Wolf, Volunteer Coordinator at 508-394-4630, ext. 430 for more information.

• Do you have a parent, friend, or relative whose drinking upsets you?
• Do you keep your home life a secret from your friends?
• Do you think no one understands?

There are teenagers who understand!  Call ALATEEN, 508/394-4555 (Dennis, MA) or visit the website for more information. 

ALATEEN Meetings are held at the Church of the Nazarene, 209 Upper County Road, South Dennis on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.

Cape Cod Volunteers, Cape Cod Young Professionals and Cape Cod Healthcare are pleased to announce an exciting collaboration, the Together Cape Cod: The 2014 Volunteer Fair & Festival!

If your organization works with volunteers to accomplish its mission, and you have volunteer opportunities to fill, we invite you to join us and host an information table at Together Cape Cod on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Together Cape Cod is designed to assist the Cape's nonprofit organizations in connecting with, and recruiting, prospective volunteers, and it will also celebrate the beginning of National Volunteer Week. There is no cost to participate, only the commitment to come early to set-up your table and be ready to talk with people about volunteer opportunities at your organization and sign them up!

To register, please see our online registration form.   You must have an active agency profile on the Cape Cod Volunteers website, and we encourage you to list your volunteer opportunities on the site if you haven't already done so. 

The MA Department of Public Health Suicide Prevention Program presents the 13th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference: The Future of Suicide Prevention: Suicide Prevention Across the Lifespan on April 16 & 17, 2014 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center.

Many individuals who have attended in the past have expertise in your own areas so that you may know as much as a conference presenter.  You are encouraged to try something new, step outside the box and consider attending workshops on topics or populations that are new to you!

Brochure and registration information.  Before selecting your workshops please click the "Workshop Descriptions" tab to view ALL workshop descriptions and agenda.

The Cape Cod Commission has recently released two summaries comparing Cape and State average wages and median single family home sales prices this century. This data is available on the Affordable Housing section of the Cape Cod Commission web site.  View wage information and  median home sales prices.

Massachusetts Substance Abuse Helpline Connects People with Services:  For tens of thousands of Massachusetts resident struggling with alcohol and other drug related issues, 1-800-327-5050 is an important number.   Read more ... 

SAVE THE DATE ~ Wednesday, June 4, 2014

College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA

Aging with Dignity - A Conference on Preventing and Responding to Substance Use and Related Problems in Older Adults.

Registration brochure will be sent out six weeks before the conference.  If you would like additional information or are deaf or hard of hearing or a person with a disability who requires accommodation, please contact AdCare Educational Institute, Inc. at 508/752-7313, TTY: 508/754-0039, Fax: 508/752-8111, or e-mail: jadoros@aol.com

Co-sponsored by:

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, the Bureau of Community Health and Prevention; the Massachusetts Partnership on Substance Use in Older Adults: A Resource Network on Prevention and Addiction; the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health; the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs; the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging and Senior Center Directors; Mass Home Care and AdCare Educational Institute, Inc.

Beginning in August 2014 the Social Security Administration will no longer issue Social Security number printouts in their field offices.  Individuals who need proof of their social security number and can not find their card will need to apply for a replacement card.

Beginning in October 2014, field offices will stop providing benefit verification letters except in emergency situations.  Benefit verifications are available online at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount or requested through the national toll-free number 1(800)772-1213.  Read more ...

SAVE THE DATE

WE CAN's 10th Annual Day of Words, Wit and Wisdome will be held on Thursday, June 5th at the Wychmere Beach Club.  This event promises to be another excellent, uplifting experience and those who attend will not be disappointed.  Make your reservation online to purchase tickets and raffle tickets beginning Monday, March 3rd at 10:00 AM.  Or you can send a check in the mail accompanied by the registration form.  Limit of 10 tickets per person.  This event sells out quickly so make your reservation early.  Tickets are $175.00 each.

Check out more details about this year's speakers and raffle prizes.

Mass 211 is offering free, anonymous mental health screenings online.  This program is an an easy way for people to monitor their mental health and learn about local treatment options.  Although online screenings are not diagnostic, they do provide valuable insight helping to identify if someone is exhibiting symptoms association with depression and other mood disorders and if they should seek help.  Read more ...

The purpose of the project is to improve access to information and the coordination and delivery of home based long term services and supports for residents of Cape Cod aged 18 and over who have chronic health conditions and disabilities, regardless of income.  The Navigator Pilot does not duplicate existing programs and services and is FREE.  To be connected to a Navigator call 508/957-7629.  Click to download program flyers for the community and for professionals.

The Barnstable County Department of Human Services website find.bchumanservices.net features on-line directories of health and human service resources. The Directories are a compilation of local resources organized around areas of critical need such as food, housing,  energy/fuel assistance, and services for seniors and people with disabilities. Find.bchumanservices.net is a valuable resource now available to Barnstable County residents and human service organizations. This new on-line tool is an effective and efficient way to make local information available on a 'simple to search' website. For more information view press release in its entirety.

If you believe your organization should be included in any of the new Directories or have any other feedback on how to improve the on-line directories, call the Department of Human Services at 508/375-6628.

• Do you provide health or human services on Cape Cod or the Islands?
• Does the public know what services you provide?
• Do people know how to access your services?
• Do you need assistance in finding services for your clients?  

The Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255, Press 1) is available 24/7/365 to provide confidential counseling and referrals for Veterans and their families.  This is an integrated national outreach effort to increase awareness and use of the Veterans Crisis Line, support and promote broader VA suicide prevention efforts, and promote help-seeking behaviors among Veterans at risk of suicide and other mental health problems.  For more information about the Veterans Crisis Line please click here.

Over 800,000 people worldwide end their lives annually.  Seven to ten people -- parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, grandchildren and close friends -- deeply feel the devastation of each loss.  That means that approximately 5 million "survivors" are left behind every year.  

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